Prof. Severine Autesserre featured on The Washington Post’s political science research blog

Political science professor Severine Autesserre contributed a guest post for The Washington Post’s “Monkey Cage” blog about peacebuilding initiatives in Africa, and the ways that intervening organizations operate on the ground in conflict zones. She argues that in order to truly help people affected by violence in places like the Central African Republic or Libya, it is first essential to understand why intervening entities continue to work in ineffective ways. An excerpt:

“[I]f we want to understand what influences the effectiveness and ineffectiveness of international peacebuilding, and how outsiders can best accompany to ongoing peace processes, we need to look at the everyday dimensions of peace interventions on the ground. Macro-level diplomatic engagement, national peace agreements, and improved government institutions are not the only determinants of peacebuilding effectiveness. It is by looking at daily practices, habits, and narratives that we can understand why interveners keep reproducing modes of operation that they know are ineffective and at times counterproductive.”